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Aust in Afghanistan too long: Smith

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says that in some respects, Australia has been in Afghanistan too long.

Mr Smith has returned from a flying visit to Afghanistan where he met President Hamid Karzai, as well as Australian, Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commanders.

He remains absolutely confident that by the end of this year, Australian forces would have succeeded in handing security responsibility to Afghan forces.

"We have been here a long time and we have been here in some respects too long, in part caused by what I describe as the Iraq distraction," he told Sky News.

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"And so when people look back at the Australian community, they will see how we leave, they will remember how we leave."

Australia has some 1550 troops in Afghanistan, but the mission has changed.

Australian forces no longer occupy bases outside the main base at Tarin Kowt and no longer conduct partnered operations with Afghan security forces, although they remain available to help if needed.

The government expects significant numbers to be out by December.

Mr Smith said the government remained strongly committed to leaving Afghan security forces in a position to take care of their own security.

"It continues to be a difficult job, it continues to be dangerous. The risk profile changes but there still are risks. We want to see the job completed and well done," he said.

"We also want to make sure that our soldiers, our men and women, are careful and take care of themselves. Whilst there's always a risk of further fatalities and further casualties, we don't want to see any more."

Mr Smith said he always made the point in talks with the Afghan government that an enduring peace could only come from a political settlement with those members of the Taliban willing to lay down their arms.

In the visit, Mr Smith met president Karzai in Kabul, where the Afghan leader expressed his respect and gratitude for the efforts of Australian soldiers and civilians in his country.

He also extended Australia's support for an Afghan-led reconciliation process with the Taliban, acknowledging the long-running war can't be ended by fighting alone.

"These talks will necessarily be long, complex and inevitably subject to setbacks, but efforts at such talks must continue," he said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Mr Smith addressed Australian troops at Tarin Kowt and fielded their questions on the federal government's commitment to Afghanistan.

He told Diggers at the military base that all Australians have immense pride in the work they're doing in Afghanistan.